Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc.

Scrap Metal Recycling In North Alabama

Three drive-through yards. Public scales you can watch. Cash in your hand before you leave. Family owned since 1974.

Copper, aluminum, steel & junk cars
Roll-off containers & commercial pickup
Open to the public, no appointment needed

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FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1974

Since 1974, Thornton Iron & Metal has helped North Alabama families, farms, shops, and businesses turn scrap metal into cash. Bring it in, watch it weigh on a public scale you can see, and get paid before you leave. We are open to anybody, whether that is one truck bed of aluminum siding or a job site that fills a roll-off container every week.

Our Services

Drive Through Retail Services

Please stop by to view our facility and let us show you first-hand what real customer satisfaction is all about. We are a convenient drive thru facility (no walking 5 miles trying to lug your material with you) and we have fast, courteous employees who will help you unload your material, take it to a public viewing scale, (no hidden numbers here) and send you to a cashier for immediate cash payment for your material.

Commercial / Industrial Services

Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc. provides a convenient pickup service for companies that generate scrap metal. Our professional and reliable service is our strength. Our pick up services includes: Tractor trailers, roll-off trucks with 10-, 20-, 30-, or 40-yard roll-off containers, flatbed trailers, open-top trailers, box vans, etc. We also offer boxes, pallets and small containers.

Demolition Services

Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc. also provides demolition services throughout the United States. No job is too large for our professional staff to handle. We have performed demolition jobs around the country and can provide a list of references. Please contact Mike Thornton at (256) 247-0708 or email mthornton@thorntonim.com for more information.

Brokerage Services

Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc. offers mill direct brokerage services for customers with larger volumes of recyclables. Please ask for details on this domestic and international program.

Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc.

Why Choose Us?

We have continued to grow and prosper thanks to our amazing customer base. We offer A+ customer service and are here to serve you and offer the most competitive pricing available. We look forward to doing business with you. We are open to the public and businesses. Now is the perfect time to clean out your workshop, barn or garage, and earn some extra cash while cleaning up the environment. Be a part of the environmental solution! Recycle reusable scrap metal and turn your junk into cash!

We do one thing and we try to do it right: pay people fairly for their metal and get them back on the road. That means competitive prices, a public scale nobody hides, and cash in hand before you pull out. For businesses it means containers that show up when they are supposed to and a crew that knows what your material is worth. We have been doing it this way since 1974 because it works.

Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc. was founded in 1974 by James Thornton. In 1990, James' son Mike Thornton purchased the business. What began as a small family business with only 3 employees and 1 location has grown into 45+ employees and 3 convenient locations serving North Alabama.

1974Family Owned Since

45+Employees

3Convenient Locations

CashImmediate Payment

Metals We Buy

All customers must have a valid state or federal ID (driver's license preferred). We do NOT accept any stolen materials! All salvage vehicles 12 years to current require a title. Anything older than 12 years will only require the VIN number to be run.

Non-Ferrous Metals (Including Exotics & High Temp Alloys)

Copper
Insulated Copper
Electric Motors
Red Brass
Yellow Brass
Aluminum Bronze
Rod Brass Turnings
Aluminum
Inco Alloys
Monel
Coax
Zinc
Lead
Titanium
Nickel
Aluminum Radiators
Auto Radiators
Stainless
Sealed Units
Batteries
Starters
Alternators
Insulated Aluminum Wire
All Grades of Aluminum

Ferrous Metals

Steel
Cast
Manganese
Ductile Iron
Tin
Foundry Grade Material (2' x 2' Max)
Mill Shear
Coil Scrap
Steel Wheels
Baled Scrap
Structural Steel
Plate & Skeleton Steel (Any Thickness)
Large Machinery

Items We Cannot Accept

PCB capacitors or PCB capacitor bearing materials and items
Mercury or any mercury bearing items
Flammable, hazardous, toxic or radioactive materials
Dirt, debris, trash, or any liquids (oil, paint, gas, water, propane, chemicals)
Paint cans
55 gallon drums
Gas tanks
Oxygen cylinders
Aerosol cans
Fire extinguishers
Any container under pressure or containing chemicals
Electrical components or machinery containing capacitors, compressors, oil, fluids, or hydraulics
Appliances or air conditioners that contain freon, capacitors, or compressors
Live ammunition or explosive materials
Computer monitors, keyboards, or microwaves

Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc.

Exports

Thornton Iron & Metal, Inc. exports all types of scrap metals and materials overseas to countries such as China, Japan, and India, including:

Aluminum
Copper
Electric Motors
Traction Motors
Sealed Units
Ballast
Starters
Alternators
Stainless
Steel
CATv
Brass
Auto Radiators
Copper Al Radiators
Insulated Wire
Copper Transformers

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to bring to sell scrap metal?

All customers must have a valid state or federal ID (driver's license preferred). For salvage vehicles 12 years old to current, you must have the title. Vehicles older than 12 years only require the VIN number to be run. We do not accept any stolen materials.

What types of scrap metal do you buy?

We buy both non-ferrous and ferrous metals, including copper, insulated copper wire, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, lead, zinc, nickel, titanium, batteries, electric motors, radiators, steel, cast iron, tin, structural steel, and large machinery. If it is made of metal, chances are we buy it.

How much do you pay for scrap metal?

Scrap metal prices change with the market, sometimes daily. We offer the most competitive pricing available in North Alabama and weigh every load on a public viewing scale, so there are no hidden numbers. Call us for today's prices on the metal you have.

Do you buy junk cars and old machinery?

Yes. We buy salvage cars, trucks, forklifts, farm equipment, and large machinery. Vehicles 12 years old to current require a title; older vehicles only require a VIN check. Ask us about towing options for vehicles and equipment that cannot be driven in.

Do you offer containers or pickup service for businesses?

Yes. We provide pickup service for companies that generate scrap metal, including tractor trailers, flatbed trailers, open-top trailers, box vans, and roll-off trucks with 10, 20, 30, or 40 yard roll-off containers. We also offer boxes, pallets, and small containers for smaller volumes.

What items can you not accept?

We cannot accept hazardous, flammable, toxic, or radioactive materials, mercury or PCB-bearing items, sealed or pressurized containers (paint cans, drums, gas tanks, oxygen cylinders, aerosol cans, fire extinguishers), appliances containing freon, capacitors, or compressors, live ammunition, computer monitors, keyboards, or microwaves, or loads containing dirt, trash, or liquids.

Who can sell scrap metal at Thornton Iron & Metal?

Everyone. We are open to the public as well as businesses and institutions. Our convenient drive-through facility means you pull in, our fast and courteous employees help you unload, your material is weighed on a public scale, and you receive immediate cash payment.

What areas do you serve?

Our scrap yards in Rogersville, Town Creek, and Florence serve all of North Alabama, including Muscle Shoals, Killen, Athens, Decatur, and the surrounding Shoals area, as well as southern Tennessee. Commercial pickup, container, and demolition services are available across the region and beyond.